By Alexey Sukachev, July, 13, 2006

A huge card is set for this Thursday, July, the 13th, in ‘Forum-Hall’, Moscow, Russia, under the unified promotion of both: Nikolay Grammatikov and Russian professional boxing Federation. It will be an eight-fight event of total 74 rounds and 6 regional titles at stake.

In the feature bout of the evening Marat Mazimbaev of Almaty, Kazakhstan, currently ranked #8 by WBO in 115 lbs, will defend both of his titles: IBA and WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight belts as he faces always tough Uzbekistani Kakhramon Arzykulov of Moscow, Russia (originally from Andizhan, Uzbekistan).

Mazimbaev, once an outstanding amateur performer, kicked his career off with the controversial loss on eight-round decision to former long-time WBA flyweight titleholder Saen Sor Plonchit (39-1 prior the bout) at his backyard back into 2000. After winning nine in a row he suffered another loss – disputable SD 10 to Alexander Pak for Russian bantamweight belt in 2002. Back to the winning column he had been pretty successful till the end of 2003. And once again a setback had been suffered as Marat barely kept his own in 12-round draw versus Moises Castro of Nicaragua for vacant IBF intercontinental title followed by the sorrowful defeat from the hands of former champion Mauricio Pastrana of Columbia on March, 2004. Now 32-year-old Mazimbaev (17-3-1, 12 KOs) is on his possibly the last run for title fight with the recent victories over Gilberto Keb Baas and Luis Doria, from whom he was able to take his current WBO Asia Pacific and IBA 115 lbs title on October, 2005.

Kakhramon Arzykulov started his own race for glory with five wins in a row but was easily stopped by PABA bantamweight titlist Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym on the 25th of April, 2003. Since then Kakhramon, 26, has been competing only in Russia and Ukraine. He is now 10-2-1, 6 KOs with the last two fights against Ukrainian champion Gennady Delisandru, whom he held to UD 10 in December, 2005, only to lose undisputedly the return match three months later.

Supporting the main event will be four fights for minor titles.

Former many times Russian heavyweight king Alexei Varakin (27-14-3, 15 KOs), 31, of Ekaterinburg, Russia will defend his current GBU belt in a twelve-rounder against once-beaten Czech Petr Sedlak (14-1, 11 KOs), 28, of Prague, Czech Republic.

Rising unbeaten junior lightweight Alisher Rahimov, 28, originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, now representing Ekaterinburg, Russia, will test his skills against tough Kazakhstani Serikzhan Yeshmangbetov, 33 for the vacant GBU super featherweight title in 12-rounder. Rahimov is now 10-0, 5 KOs, while always game Yeshmangbetov compiles a record of 5-9-1, 3 KOs but reported to be 18-9-1, 9 KOs due to the sources of Kazakhstani national boxing federation. He is best-known for his tough challenge against pound per pounder Manny Pacquiao back to March, 2003, when he was able to deck Pacman in early rounds, however, was kayoed in the 5th.

Vitaly Demyanenko (7-0, 5 KOs), 23, of Almaty, Kazakhstan, will take his toughest opponent to date by welcoming former Tanzanian champion Chaurembo Palasa (16-11, 9 KOs) in conquest for the should-be vacant WBO Asia Pacific 140 lbs belt.

In the only 10-rounder of the card young Russian heavyweight Andrey Fedosov (10-1, 7 KOs), 20, St.Peterburg, Russia, will face experienced hard-hitter Suren Kalachyan (9-11, 8 KOs), 33, for the vacant Russian heavyweight title.

Undercard:

Alexander Felichkin (2-0, 0 KOs) – Roman Selivestrov (5-3, 1 KO), welterweight;

Timur Shailezov (2-0, 0 KOs) – Shuhrat Usmonov (pro debut), bantamweight.